His Majesty the King’s Personal Representative and Chairman of the Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE) His Highness Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa affirmed Bahrain’s agreements and cooperation signed with the GCC aiming to protect biodiversity in the region and preserve natural resources.
Marking World Wildlife Day which coincides December 30 of every year, HH Shaikh Abdullah praised the great attention paid by the GCC countries to wildlife, believing in the importance of preserving wildlife and biological diversity in the region.
His Highness stressed the importance of cooperation among the GCC countries to face environmental challenges and overcome regional obstacles that threaten wildlife and affect the prosperity of biodiversity through joint programs and projects, exchange of national experiences, and support for innovation, studies and research.
He stressed the Kingdom’s environmental achievements thanks to the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, through the environmental legal legislation, and the ambitious national programs and plans adopted by the esteemed government to preserve the natural resources and wildlife of Bahrain.
Shaikh Abdullah affirmed the commitment of the GCC to the international community concerned with the protection of biological diversity and the gulf region’s efforts to develop natural environments that embrace living organisms, and establish natural reserves in terrestrial, coastal, and marine environments.
His Highness said that the Kingdom recently issued Law 7/2022 updating environmental laws that are in line with changes in various environmental and climatic fields and keeping pace with international best practices in developing sustainable development and facing new environmental challenges.
He pointed out to Bahrain’s Law 27/2012 approving accession to The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is currently working on issuing legal regulations that enhance the efforts of Bahrain in combating trafficking in endangered species.
HH Shaikh Abdullah stressed that the Kingdom announced many natural reserves in various terrestrial and marine areas, issued red lists of endangered species, and launched a species-monitoring program.
He also affirmed the licensing program for endangered wild species that contribute to combating their smuggling and trafficking, in cooperation with the security services and customs at land, sea, and air borders, in addition to strengthening the control program on markets and land and sea environments.
Source: Bahrain News Agency